How Did Skyline Contracting Go From One Backhoe To A $10 Million Business?

Sometimes, a single inspiring story is enough to make your day. Let’s have a refreshing look at such a story that will bring an optimistic hope to you. A real-life hardworking story: A story of Skyline contractors.

Mike Kelleher had just one rubber-tired digger and a big dream when he started Skyline Contracting in 1987: to make his love of construction a sustainable business. That modest beginning has expanded into a prosperous $8–10 million business headquartered in Grand Junction, Colorado, almost 40 years later. 

From a one-machine operation to one of the most reputable contractors in the area, the company’s journey serves as an example of consistent growth, active leadership, and family-driven dedication.

How did he take the first step?

Installing farm irrigation pipelines throughout rural Colorado was Skyline Contracting’s first project. These early initiatives laid the groundwork for the business but demanded more willpower than funding. 

The extent of the work increased along with Mike’s reputation and experience. The company quickly acquired the bonding capacity needed to bid on bigger contracts and began working on municipal pipeline projects.

With time, Skyline grew to offer a wide range of services, such as underground utilities, commercial excavation, site development, and demolition. 

The company can now manage projects of nearly any size thanks to its fleet of equipment and technical expertise. Every expansion phase was directed by the straightforward tenet that Mike frequently reiterated: “Grow only as fast as you can maintain quality.”

How did they change the equipment operation strategy?

The expansion of Skyline is a direct result of its operational philosophy, which is to invest in the right personnel and equipment. As the company moved from small-scale farm work using a simple used backhoe loader for sale to multi-million dollar municipal and commercial contracts, it needed smarter systems in addition to better machinery. 

Today, it offers site grading, extensive earthwork, demolition, and utility line installation, ranging from geothermal pipelines to storm sewers.

Skyline has become the go-to option for both private and municipal clients in Western Colorado as a result of this expansion of expertise. 

Even in the most difficult jobsite conditions, productivity is guaranteed by the company’s emphasis on consistent improvement and dependable equipment use. One of the main factors influencing its revenue growth and long-term viability has been its operational consistency.

How did they manage the workforce and reputation?

Skyline’s long-term success is driven by a strong mentorship culture. Mike attributes much of the company’s success to “a good group of good people” who taught him the proper way to do things. The emphasis on teamwork remains today, with field crews trained to maintain quality, safety, and professionalism on every project.

Skyline’s credibility stems from its long-standing relationships with public agencies and private developers. It has established strong partnerships with city departments, utility companies, and local businesses over the years, demonstrating its dependability and consistency in project delivery. 

This reputation for excellence helped Skyline earn a spot as one of Equipment World’s 2025 “Contractor of the Year” finalists, putting it among the best-performing construction firms in the country.

For heavy equipment professionals, Skyline’s story serves as a reminder that success is defined by how well you build, not how quickly you grow.

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